Do you want to help the poor people while exploring a new country? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of the people of Ecuador?

Our volunteer opportunities in Ecuador put you right in the middle of all the excitement. You will be surrounded by the lively culture and captivating landscapes.

Nowhere else in the world will you see marine Iguanas in their natural habitat!

Ecuador offers you snow covered volcanoes, white sand beaches, ancient ruins, Andean mountains and so much more! Ecuador’s people are poor and destitute but so full of life and energy and will embrace all that you give them.

Available Volunteer Opportunities in Ecuador

We have many rewarding volunteer opportunities to help the disadvantaged people of Ecuador. You can work with the abused and abandoned children, teach English, or help with eco conservation projects.

Volunteer in Orphanage Project Ecuador

Abandoned and abused children are a tremendous problem in Ecuador. Many families are so poor they cannot take care of their children and leave them to fend for themselves.

Ecuador lacks the support from the government to improve this situation. A lot of organizations have opened orphanages trying to help these poor children. They lack support and funds to keep these orphanages open and desperately need orphanage volunteers.

Volunteers in the Ecuador orphanages are mentors and positive role models for these children who have no one. You will help with homework, teach English, but most of all show love and compassion to these abused and forgotten children.

You will show these children they are important and deserve love too.

Required Skills:
As an orphanage volunteer, we prefer you to have some basic Spanish speaking skills. If you do not, we have a course you can enroll in. This will enhance your experience and help you communicate better with the children. We also ask that you be patient and love children. Those are the only things we request; no skills or past experience are needed.

Volunteer Chores:
Volunteers with the orphanage in Ecuador will help the children with many different tasks. You can teach English, organize and play games, help with schoolwork, cooking and cleaning, and more; there is so much for volunteers to help with you will not be bored!

Volunteer English Teaching Opportunity Ecuador

English schooling is greatly needed for students in Ecuador to get better jobs and be able to support their families. English teachers are expensive, and many families cannot afford to pay for these classes.

Volunteers are greatly needed to teach English to the disadvantaged local children. With the teaching English volunteer program in Ecuador, you will teach English to these eager students in the local schools, private or public.

This is your chance to share your knowledge and compassion with children who desperately need you.

Required Qualifications:
We prefer volunteers to know some Spanish in order to communicate with staff and the children, but it is not mandatory. You can however enroll in one of our Spanish classes to enhance your volunteer experience. Past experience or training is not required. We do request all volunteers to be passionate, accepting, and patient with the children.

No shorts or short sleeved shirts are allowed. You must be presentable; no excessive tattoos or piercings allowed.

Volunteer Tasks:
Volunteers teaching in Ecuador will help with all levels of school teaching English. You may teach other topics such as art, music, mathematics, or physical education if you are knowledgeable in them. Volunteers can also assist with extracurricular activities, discussing hygiene, and sanitation.

Conservation Opportunity

Ecuador is full of breathtaking scenery and a large variety of unique animals. Volunteers in the Ecuador rainforest will spend their time on the Los Cedros Biological Reserve that sits on 17,000 acres of rainy and foggy forests!

This reserve is brimming with over 240 different kinds of birds, thousands of diverse insects, and the largest cockroach you have ever seen!

Required Skills
Skills are not required. You must only possess a love for nature and be eager to help.

Volunteer Responsibilities
Conservation volunteers will have different chores every day. You will help develop and maintain the trails, assist with research and new projects, upkeep with the facility, feeding the animals, helping with the fruits and vegetables, and additional chores as needed by staff.

Galapagos Island Project

San Cristobal Island is in grave danger of losing the battle of maintaining the local ecosystem and bio diversity.

The island is being overrun with new species that threaten to eliminate the endangered ones that call the Galapagos Islands home. Environmental volunteers in Ecuador are urgently needed to help!

You can join the fight to help save the threatened indigenous species and sustain the agriculture by volunteering!

Conservation volunteers will take part in the current projects and be a part of preserving the Galapagos Islands and maintaining their tranquil beauty.

Desired Skills
Skills are not needed to volunteer with the conservation in Ecuador. We only require you have a passion for protecting the environment and be willing to go where you are needed most. Please be aware, your lodging will be very basic, and you will not have internet. You can go to the nearest town to use the internet and call home.

Chores for Volunteers:
As an eco-volunteer, you will work Monday -Friday and some partial days on Saturdays. You will be educated on biodiversity, the history of nature, and environmental science.

You will have different chores each day like monitoring the trails and signs, construction, or helping with fresh water and cooking. You might also be assigned to help with the organic farming

Arrangement of Room/Food/Supervision

Volunteer programs in Costa Rica provide you with a hotel or host family for lodging. All of our accommodations are safe and secure.

Host families will provide you with a private or shared room, shared kitchen and bathroom, three meals a day, and a place to wash your clothes (you can pay a small fee to have your clothes washed). Be aware, most host families do not have hot water.

Our local staff is available 24 hours a day and will stay in contact with you during your entire stay.

11 Best Budget Volunteer Organizations and Programs in Ecuador for 2018-2019

Are you searching for an exciting South American volunteer opportunity that is affordable for your budget? Would you love to travel to Ecuador and help people improve their lives? If you are searching for Ecuador volunteering opportunities, this article may be an extremely helpful guide. It will reveal the best volunteer abroad opportunities in Ecuador.

Ecuador is a great place to volunteer for many reasons. It is one of the most beautiful places in the world. This small coastal country located in South America offers travelers many unique and amazing outdoor adventures. From gorgeous beaches, to the Andes Mountains, to the Galapagos Islands, visiting and volunteering in Ecuador can truly be a life-changing experience.
Unfortunately, volunteering in Ecuador is not cheap. If you search online, you will see that Ecuador volunteer programs range from $200- $3000. Because there are so many programs that are so different in quality, it is easy to end up selecting the wrong one. If you fail to choose the right company, you may lose money and end up with a bad experience.

In this article we will offer you several excellent resources to choose from, so you can easily find the ones that will suit your unique needs and budget. We have worked really hard to search and find the best and cheap volunteer abroad opportunities in Ecuador that will satisfy anyone’s needs. We have focused on cheap and low cost volunteer programs in Ecuador that are highly rated and offer the best value for the consumers. Choosing any of these volunteer abroad opportunities would certainly be a smart choice.

1. RCDP Volunteer Abroad

RCDP Volunteer Abroad is an organization that offers opportunities on several continents, including the best volunteer opportunities in Ecuador. RCDP was registered in 1998 and is a non-profit, non-political, and non-religious volunteer organization.

RCDP Ecuador Volunteer Program Fees

The prices vary depending how long you want to stay; you can choose from 1 to 12 weeks. The stay in the Galapagos project on San Cristobal Island costs double what the Quito programs cost, but the Galapagos project offers an amazing nature experience because of the stunning location and popularity of the program.

The prices in Quito vary from $245 for 1 week, $665 for 4 weeks (which is an ideal length for volunteering) and $1785 for 12 weeks. On the other hand, the Galapagos project costs from $485 for a week, to $3763 for 12 weeks.

In addition to these fees there are additional fees that you need to take care of as well, like your visa, daily transportation, airfare, personal expenses like food, travel, water etc. You will be accommodated either in a hostel or a host family. You will share rooms with other volunteers, which is an excellent opportunity to share experiences, have fun and meet new exciting people. This all makes RCDP a good option if you are in search of inexpensive volunteer abroad programs in Ecuador.

RCDP Ecuador Volunteer Program Reviews

RCDP is one of the more highly reviewed companies, and there are literally hundreds of positive online reviews. In all reviews, volunteers praise their life changing experience, quality of service, reasonable fees.

2. IFRE Volunteers

IFRE Volunteers was founded in 2005 and it is based in Dallas, Texas. It is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization and nearly 20,000 volunteers have participated in their volunteer programs in Asia, Africa and Latin America. They offer various volunteering programs for 18 countries in the world, including Ecuador.

IFRE offers one of the best volunteer abroad opportunities in Ecuador, are extremely experienced, professional and have more than 100+ field employees in their well-developed network. Even though they are not that old the company is developing really fast, and becoming one of the most rapidly growing non-profit volunteering organizations.

IFRE Ecuador Volunteer Program Fees

The prices of the IFRE Volunteers packages vary depending on whether you choose Quito or Galapagos Islands as your destination. The prices for Quito are significantly lower, but the Galapagos Islands offer a stunning and unique nature experience. The price for Quito programs vary from $295 for 1 week, and $715 for 4 weeks up to $1835 for 12 weeks.

On the other hand, the prices for Galapagos Islands can cost you from $535 up to $3813 for 12 weeks. Each application for volunteering has a fee of $299 which is intended for the staff and office expenses; but most importantly you will pay the weekly fees directly to the projects and the host families you will be volunteering for. They certainly represent another good option for cheap volunteer abroad opportunities in Ecuador.

IFRE Ecuador Volunteer Program Reviews

There haven’t been any major negative reviews for their Ecuador programs, and volunteers report lots of good experiences. This one of the best volunteer abroad opportunities in Ecuador because of the affordable fees, authority, experience and expertise of the IFRE support teams and the quality and diversity of the programs.

3. Global Crossroad

Global Crossroad is an organization that was registered in Dallas, Texas in 2003 and is one of the world’s fastest growing international volunteer vacation organizations. It is a BBB accredited organization. Global Crossroad offers abroad experiences to international volunteers in 18 countries located in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. From their founding ‘till today they have served more than 18,000 volunteers.

Reviewed highly by the majority of its volunteers, Global Crossroad offers experience, professionalism and expertise that enable them to stay at the very top of the best organizations for volunteering opportunities. Global Crossroad offers the perfect balance between volunteering and leisure. Amongst their low cost and inexpensive volunteering programs that are offered for many countries, they also offer programs for Ecuador.

Global Crossroad Ecuador Volunteer Project Fees

The prices for Quito vary from $285 for 1 week to $1835 for 12 weeks. On the other hand, as is usual, the Galapagos based volunteering program costs from $535 to $3813. In addition, you will need to pay a $299 application fee that covers the administrative costs of Global Crossroad in terms of promotion, staff, office expenses etc. They have many employees that can inform you in detail what your program will consist of.

Spanish courses are offered in addition to the volunteering program, which is a great way to increase your knowledge of this popular worldwide language. Global Crossroad is one of the most experienced and reliable organizations offering quality, reliability and support throughout the whole volunteering process. This makes them one of the top choices for best volunteer abroad opportunities in Ecuador, if you are planning to volunteer in this Latin America country.

Global Crossroad Ecuador Volunteer Program Reviews

Global Crossroad attracts a solid number of positive reviews from the users of their programs in Ecuador. There is plenty of praise for the host families and the fact that there were no additional unexpected charges, thus making Global Crossroad one of the best budget volunteer abroad opportunities in Ecuador.

4. International Volunteer HQ

Founded and based in New Zealand in 2007, International Volunteer HQ is one of the very best non-profit organizations around, and they offer hundreds of projects worldwide. It was founded after a volunteer trip to Africa in 2006, by Dan Radcliffe, who began working with the aim of making volunteering abroad more accessible by providing affordable and responsible volunteer programs.

Specifically, they offer 150+ projects and 30 destinations worldwide. Besides the standard continents that are usually offered by volunteering organizations like Asia, Africa and Latin America, they offer volunteering programs in Europe as well. They are one of the best and most professional organizations for volunteering abroad. They don’t offer programs outside of Quito, but the quality of programs is making them one of the best Ecuador volunteer abroad providers.

IVHQ Volunteer Opportunities in Ecuador

Volunteer in kindergartens in Ecuador’s capital, Quito

Volunteer in the school support field in Ecuador’s capital, Quito

Volunteer in the administration support field in Ecuador’s capital, Quito

Volunteer at Street Children Works in Ecuador’s capital, Quito

Volunteer by Teaching English in Ecuador’s capital, Quito

IVHQ Ecuador Volunteer Program Fee

Their fees start at $270 for 1 week. For 4 weeks the cost is $630, while for the longest program of 12 weeks the cost is $1510. Besides the application fee of $299, you need to pay for airfare, transportation costs and your personal expenses when you arrive in Quito. They have a well-developed network in Quito and the host families are reliable, kind and really helpful.

You will live with other volunteers, which provides a great opportunity to meet other people and share new experiences. You can also visit popular tourist attractions together in your free time. No matter which program you choose you will gain invaluable experiences that improve you as a person on many levels. The great thing is that these volunteering programs are established by one of the best organizations, offering great affordable volunteering projects in Ecuador!

IVHQ Ecuador Volunteer Program Reviews

The majority of the online reviews for International Volunteer HQ are extremely positive. Many users have had life changing experiences because of the ability of International Volunteer HQ to set up environments in which the volunteers can interact with the locals and receive support during their time in Ecuador.

Their network is consisted of more than 60 employees worldwide and even though they have less experience than the previous programs, they can offer equally great and quality service, more because their programs a little different than the previous 3 programs that were fairly similar in locations.

Ubelong Volunteer Opportunities in Ecuador

Volunteer on an environmental conservation project in Napo Province

Volunteer on a Galapagos conservation project in San Cristobal Island

Volunteer in the general care field in Ecuador’s capital, Quito

Volunteer on a construction project in Ecuador’s capital, Quito

Volunteer on an education related program in Ecuador’s capital, Quito

Volunteer in the health field in Ecuador’s capital, Quito

Ubelong Ecuador Volunteer Program Fees

Prices of the programs are affordable when compared to the services you are getting. For the Napo Province volunteering program that is dedicated to environment conservation they start from $520 a week, but the price per week is significantly lower if you choose a longer stay. Like other organizations, the volunteering in the Galapagos in the San Cristobal Island program costs $615 for 1 week.

The volunteering programs that are located in Quito have a starting price of $505 in the first week. These are their most affordable programs, but are slightly more expensive when compared to other organizations. What sets them apart is that the volunteering programs offered by Ubelong are slightly different and more diversified. It is easy to conclude that Ubelong is another great solution for finding affordable volunteering opportunities for Ecuador.

Ubelong Ecuador Volunteer Program Reviews

Ubelong offers one of the most positively reviewed programs. Users praise their experience, prices and the ability to connect volunteers with local, needy populations and encourage cultural understanding. A comfortable stay with the host families is also mentioned in most of the reviews.

6. Cross-Continental Solutions

Cross-Continental Solutions Inc. is a federally registered organization that was founded in 2010 based out of Canada. They are dedicated to providing prospective volunteer travelers with unique opportunities and cultural experiences for affordable rates.

Cross Continental staff are also experienced international volunteers who knows how things work and can offer valuable information and assistance. They offer programs for 10 countries around the world (Africa, Asia and Latin America). They offer a great affordable volunteer program for Ecuador as well.

Cross-Continental Solutions Volunteer Opportunities in Ecuador

Volunteer as a caregiver in Ecuador’s capital, Quito

Volunteer in the community development field in Ecuador’s capital, Quito

Volunteer on a healthcare project in Ecuador’s capital, Quito

Volunteer on a teaching project in Ecuador’s capital, Quito

Volunteer in the conservation field in Galapagos

Cross-Continental Solutions Ecuador Volunteer Program Fees

Their programs can cost from $180 for 1 week to the 1-month program for $580, which is similar and little more expensive than the other programs here. In addition to these costs you need to pay the application fee of $299.

Cross-Continental Solutions Ecuador Volunteer Program Reviews

Cross-Continental Solutions is not a big organization, but its programs are high quality and their staff is great. They have received excellent reviews from the volunteers they’ve served, for being personable and reliable, and their customer support is listed as one of the best you will find. Their extremely low cost 1-week programs are the main reason why this program is rated as one of the best and cheapest volunteer abroad opportunities in Ecuador

7. Love Volunteers

Love Volunteers is a New Zealand non-profit organization that was founded in 2010. It is one of the fastest growing organizations to offer a varied amount of volunteering opportunities. They offer one of the largest assortments of destinations worldwide and besides the countries in the developing world; you can find countries from Europe and even Australia. Besides affordable volunteering programs for Ecuador in the capital city of Quinto, they offer programs in some other locations too.

Love Volunteers Ecuador Volunteer Program Fees

The prices can vary from $395-560 for 1 week depending on type of the program, to $3200 for 20 weeks. The minimum stay can also vary from 1 to 3 weeks. That is why it is best to choose the program that suits you and then talk with a professional from their stuff. Of course you need to pay the application fee like in every other program. Even with these fees Love Volunteers still asserts itself as one of the best volunteer abroad opportunities in Ecuador.

Love Volunteers Ecuador Volunteer Program Reviews

With 92% positive reviews percentage Go Overseas, and mostly 5 star reviews on the other volunteer review websites, Love Volunteers still remains at the very top of the best volunteer abroad opportunities. Users are praising the great support from Love Volunteers and unbelievably fun and rewarding projects making it one of the top choices for budget volunteer abroad opportunities in Ecuador.

8. COINED

COINED is a great organization that offers many volunteering opportunities abroad. Their programs are most of based on language learning courses. However, they also offer many affordable volunteering programs for Ecuador that are different and diversified from the usual programs. They are highly rated on most of the volunteer review websites and offer programs in more than 14 countries worldwide. They are also one of the most experienced organizations you will find on the Internet.

COINED Ecuador Volunteer Program Fees

All of their programs are for Quito, the capital of Ecuador. They have an interesting pricing system. If you want to volunteer, you must do it for at least 2 weeks which is priced at $700, with every additional week is priced at $195. Volunteers will either stay with host families or in residences and hostels in Quito. They have great customer support which you can easily reach, even on Skype and WhatsApp.

COINED has a really informative staff of professionals and a broad network of employees that can help you experience Ecuador in the best possible way. It is not one of the most affordable offers, but certainly it is one of the best ones.

COINED Ecuador Volunteer Program Reviews

There aren’t many online reviews for COINED online, but the ones that have been shared are very positive. COINED is one of the most affordable volunteer programs for Ecuador.

A Broader View Ecuador Volunteer Program Fees

Programs can last from 1 to 4 weeks, although for some programs there is a 2 week minimum. The price depends on the location of the volunteering project. It is estimated that you need to pay from $895 for 1 week, to $1050 for two weeks. You are actually covering the Volunteer Registration Fee – ongoing support from ABV staff, program marketing costs, information pack, administration costs, ABV donation Fund, travel costs to inspect programs and communication costs with volunteers and the Volunteer Program Fee.

You can also contact them at any time. The great support from the A Broader View Volunteers staff is guaranteed and they are constantly available via phone or email. They are certainly one of the best solutions if you ever want to choose an inexpensive volunteering program in Ecuador.

A Broader View Ecuador Volunteer Program Reviews

A Broader View has the best reviews from all of the companies in this list. Although they don’t have as many reviews as the other organizations, they do boast a 99% positive review percentage on Go Overseas, and that speaks for itself. The organization, responsiveness, the staff and the host families are all praised in their programs.

10. Frontier

Frontier is a non-profit organization that is practically one of the pioneers in the volunteering world-wide. It was established back in 1989 as a non-profit conservation and development non-governmental organization (NGO). Since then they have been quite innovative in creating quality volunteer programs across the globe. Now they are one of the largest volunteering networks offering over 400 projects in more than 60 countries across the world.

They offer a great number of programs for anyone that wants to volunteer. Their offer for Ecuador is one of the best, not only because of the number of projects offered, but also because of the affordable volunteering opportunities in Ecuador and the quality, well-developed programs. They offer 6 different programs that are not only focused in the Ecuador’s capital, but also in parts of the Amazon region, Galapagos and Andes region.

Volunteer in the sustainable agriculture field in Ecuador’s capital, Quito

Volunteer on a community building program in the Andes Region.

Frontier Ecuador Volunteer Program Fees

When compared to other programs the Frontier Ecuador programs offer more conservation, agriculture and community building programs. So, you should carefully look every option they offer. The prices are also some of the most affordable. Prices can vary from $945 for two weeks, to $2,095 as the most expensive option for 4-week volunteering program. The fees include the application fee, transport from airport, accommodation and support.

You will stay with host families, or at ranches or hostels, depending on the project. The programs have been ongoing for years, so they are perfectly developed to make your stay in Ecuador unforgettable. The network and the experience of Frontier will guarantee to have a great time. With all the history and numerous volunteering opportunities and volunteers served, Frontier should be at the very top when you are selecting the best volunteering abroad opportunities for Ecuador.

Frontier Ecuador Volunteer Program Reviews

They have more than 90% positive reviews across various volunteer review websites. The great staff, customer support and ultra-interesting programs offered to the volunteers that provide them with new and exciting moments that are life-changing. Frontier has a great online reputation and that is why they are rated as one of the best volunteer opportunities for Ecuador.

11. Travellers Worldwide

Travellers Worldwide was established in 1994 by husband and wife team, Phil and Jennifer Perkes. It is the only volunteering organization founded and based in the United Kingdom. The goal of Travellers Worldwide is to enable people from all over the world to experience the joys of living and working in foreign countries. This non-profit organization doesn’t just offer volunteering opportunities, as internships are available too.

There are about 300 projects around the world that are offered by Travellers Worldwide in predominantly developing countries. They have included Ecuador as one of the most exciting and unique experiences. They offer 6 interesting projects in this Latin American country.

Travellers Worldwide Ecuador Volunteer Program Fees

The prices of the Travellers Worldwide Ecuador programs vary from $982 to $2257. Usually they are for 1 week and each additional week costs around $400. From working and helping the underprivileged children and adults, to wildlife rescue and conservation, the Ecuador volunteering programs that Travellers Worldwide offer can meet the need of just about anyone.

These programs are so detailed and well-developed that there isn’t any possibility for something to go wrong. You will have a great team that works to give you support. You can contact Travellers Worldwide at any time for any issue. The travel and your personal expenses are not included, everything else is included. If you are looking for budget volunteer abroad opportunities in Ecuador that offer something more and you are located in Europe or UK, contact Travellers Worldwide.

Travellers Worldwide Ecuador Volunteer Program Reviews

The reviews of Travellers Worldwide are overall positive, with minor issues reported. In general their programs are reviewed as well organized, life-changing and totally worth the money making them a consideration for one of the best inexpensive volunteer abroad opportunities in Ecuador.

12. Eco Volunteer UP Foundation

Eco Volunteer UP Foundation is a newer and smaller non-profit organization, but it is the only one that is based in Ecuador. This Ecuadorian non-profit organization specializes in community tourism that works with local families to improve living conditions of rural communities in the Andes, Amazon, Coast, Cloud Forest and Galapagos. One of the few offerings is also volunteering programs for those parts of Ecuador. They have a young and enthusiastic staff.

Their programs are equally good if not better than most of the programs in this list. However, they are not some big network of employees and don’t have many staff members. That is why you should expect many more affordable volunteering experiences than the other programs included in the list.

Eco Volunteer UP Foundation Ecuador Volunteer Program Fees

Their prices are one of the most affordable on the market. They vary from $140 for Quito and $200 for other cities for 1 week. You can pick from 1 week to 12 weeks. The additional weeks cost roughly $140. You will stay with host families, eco lodges, haciendas or apartments, and your days of work are Monday to Friday.

The weekends are usually planned to explore Ecuador. Eco Volunteer UP Foundation is a modest, yet honest and affordable volunteering service. Their programs for Ecuador are one of the best volunteering programs because they are an Ecuador based non-profit organization and they offer great expertise and knowledge on what to do and what to explore in the country.

Eco Volunteer UP Foundation Ecuador Volunteer Program Reviews

Though Eco Volunteer UP Foundation doesn’t have a large number of online reviews, the reviews found on various websites are very positive. The users that reviewed their programs mentioned that they are affordable and exciting, making them one of the most affordable volunteering programs in Ecuador, while the staff of Eco Volunteer UP Foundation has proven to be supportive and helpful!

Conclusion – Choose Wisely

If you search on the Internet right now, you wouldn’t find a better offer for Budget volunteer abroad opportunities in Ecuador than the programs of these 12 non-profit organizations. Although, the most logical choice would be to choose the cheapest one, be aware of the additional fees and talk with the customer support before you sign or pay for any application.

Usually, most of these non-profit organizations have great customer support and we advise you to talk with them before making any decision. They can also help you in determining your needs and which programs to choose. Also read reviews of the programs on popular volunteer program review websites that can enable you to get a feel for what your volunteer experience might be like.

Ecuador is a beatufiul and exciting country that is definitely worth experiencing. These affordable volunteering programs in Ecuador are an excellent opportunity for everyone to see and experience it. They are professionally organized and supported by a caring group of professionals and experts in the field. All you need is the good will and motivation to take the next step.

We would love to hear from anyone who takes up one of these exciting opportunities, so don’t forget to keep in touch!